Other ponds being cleaned include Lake Muhlenberg, Union Terrace Pond, the two ponds at Allentown Municipal Golf Course and the two reflective pools at the Allentown Rose Gardens.

The first treatment began July 10, and each pond will receive as many as four more treatments through October. The lakes should look as much as 80 percent clearer by November, Mikowychok said.

The herbicides being used will not be harmful to the fish there, he said, and although there is no swimming at the ponds, the chemicals would not be harmful if consumed in small quantities by people.

"You're probably more likely to suffer ill effects from the bacteria that is naturally occurring in nontreated, unpotable water than you are the chemicals applied to these plants," Mikowychok said.

Once the chemicals are applied, there will be a period during which the vegetation starts to brown and die, followed by a period when the material either sinks or is flushed from the water by thunderstorms or currents.

Some of the browning process is already visible. Mikowychok compared it to weeds deteriorating and crumbling after they are sprayed on the sidewalk.

All seven of these bodies of water underwent the same kind of treatment last year, but the chemicals being used were changed to ensure that trout populations would not be harmed.

The city did not receive any reports of trout dying, but there was some concern the copper sulfate in the chemicals was too high and could be toxic to the fish, Mikowychok said.

The chemicals being used this year do not include copper, he said. They are Clipper Herbicide, MicroLife Clear Max, Reward Herbicide and Cutrine-Plus Algaecide.

Of the substance used last year, Mikowychok said: "Trout are more susceptible to mortality or injury from this chemical than other species of fish, so we wanted to make sure we use something that was the least intrusive to the toxicity of trout."

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CLEANING THE BATHROOMS

Lakes aren't the only Allentown park amenity in need of sprucing up, said city Councilwoman Jeanette Eichenwald. She said she has received several calls complaining that the bathrooms at Trexler Park are not being cleaned properly.

Allentown Managing Director Fran Dougherty said cleanup efforts are being increased there to include Saturdays and Sundays due to the increased use during the summer.

"We're beefing up the maintenance crews to make these restrooms sparkle a bit," Dougherty said.